The best heavyweight box champ

[VAMPIR]

Vote for the best heavyweight boxing champion of all time.

[VAMPIR]

THE RATINGS

(Rating the All Time Heavyweights With the Stat Chart Method)


1-2. Joe Louis (89) Louis most closely resembles the perfect fighter. He scored high in power, hand speed, killer instinct, heart, and ring generalship. He did well in all categories with his lowest scores in footwork and chin but still "solid." A near fundamentally flawless masterful technician as well as being a devastating puncher. His combination punching to the head and body was the best in division history.
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/joe-louis-photo-01.jpg

1-2. Muhammad Ali (89) Ali's overall skills and strong showing in all categories give him a high mark. He received the only 10 in Footwork- as his lateral movement and foot speed was head and shoulders above the field. His hand speed, durability, heart and ring generalship were among the best.
http://www.hickoksports.com/images/muhammad_ali.jpg

3. Lary Holmes(88) Holmes scored very well in all categories showing why he is on the rise in many all time lists. A great technician. Not a true power puncher but good enough.
http://members.tripod.com/~jeffsboxing/holmes.jpg


4. Jack Johnson (87) Johnson received my only 10 in Defense as he was a master at glove blocking, parrying, feinting, smothering and evading blows, and was a great counter-puncher, things most heavyweights are not good at. Ring founder Nat Fleischer, who saw them all, and many others,s believed that Johnson's skills were incomparable defensively. Johnson had a 10 year unbeaten streak in his career, longer than many a fighters career. Johnson's relatively weak chin kept him from ranking higher.

5. Jack Dempsey (86) Dempsey's ability to inflict heavy damage, his will and killer instinct and often under appreciated boxing skills show why some consider him to be a heavyweight version of Roberto Duran. One of the greatest attackers and finishers in ring history, Dempsey finished 1st in 1950 AP Poll as the greatest fighter of all time.
http://poorwilliam.net/pix/dempsey-jack.jpg

6-7. Jim Jeffries (83) Big enough to compete with modern heavyweights, Jeffries was also a world class athlete with a 6' high jump and could run the 100 yard dash in 10.5 seconds. Jeffries combined great stamina with a great chin which made him a very tough opponent. Big Jeff was a strong puncher who fought out of a crouch. A bit crude but no more so than Marciano or Foreman.

6-7. Mike Tyson (83) One of the best in combination of both speed and power in ring history. Tyson also had great killer instinct. His lowest score was in heart as he never showed the ability to come from behind when hurt and was a psychological front-runner.
http://www.boxing-memorabilia.com/images/Mike_Tyson.jpeg

8-9. Lennox Lewis (82) Lennox results should be no suprise. He has the size, reach and frightening power to knock out virtually anyone. He can box well, has maneuverability, and is an adequate ring general. He could be more aggressive at times and was inconsistent in this manner. His chin was also not at the highest level.
http://www.geocities.com/Baja/9660/LEWIS.jpg

8-9. Rocky Marciano (82) Marciano was a bullish swarmer who broke down foes through pressure and non stop punching. He scored high in power, durability, and heart. He scored less well in footwork, defense, hand speed, and ring generalship.
http://f.screensavers.com/migration/ss/rockymarciano_215.gif


10-11. Evander Holyfield (81) Holyfield had no weak areas showing he was a good all around fighter in his heavyweight prime. He could punch well, box, move, counter, had loads of heart and durability and was a fine ring general. Not among the greatest punchers he could finish a man when he was hurt. Holyfield mixed great performances with lackluster ones.
http://mississaugachiro.com/images/evander_holyfield.jpg

10-11. Sonny Liston (81) A strong puncher with a powerful jab which came behind an 84" reach equal to that of Lennox Lewis and among the best in division history. He was a good technician with under-appreciated boxing skills. He had a decent chin. On the downside he is the only heavyweight champion to quit/surrender his title on his stool so his heart is suspect.
http://www.hk12.de/sonnyliston.jpg

12. Joe Frazier (80) A strong pressure fighter who gave 3 minutes of work every round, he was also a strong puncher especially with his great left hook. His chin is suspect against the biggest hitters.
http://www.doghouseboxing.com/Media/JoeFrazier_BIG.jpg

13-15. Riddick Bowe (79)The best inside fighter among the giants. He was a strong puncher whose poor training habits and lack of dedication kept him from being among the top 10.
http://www.boxrec.com/media/images/e/eb/Bowe.riddick.jpg

13-15. George Foreman (79) George's power, killer instinct, and strong chin make him a tough opponent. In my view few who stood in front of him would have hope to survive. His weak scores in defense, endurance and ring generalship kept him from a high rating, and it is possible many of the clever boxers would outscore him as did Jimmy Young.
http://espn-att.starwave.com/media/box/2001/0921/photo/a_foreman_i.jpg

13-15. Gene Tunney (79) A master boxer who could find the weakness in any opponent's style and exploit it. He had nice footwork and a great jab, and a strong chin. Perhaps at his peak at light-heavyweight he was nontheless a very fine heavyweight boxer.

16-17. James J. Corbett (78) A truly clever boxer whose innovative ring technique; jab, left hook, footwork and defense revolutionzed boxing and brought on the modern age of boxing in 1892 when he beat Sullivan. After he beat Mitchell in 1894 the NPG reported, "Turning Point in Pugilism" due to Corbett's masterful display of boxing skills. Rated # 5 by Ring Magazine founder Nat Fleischer in 1958.

16-17.Ezzard Charles (78). A sleek and slick boxing artist who was at his peak as a light-heavyweight where most of his greatest victories occured. Nevertheless he was a solid heavyweight champion defeating an old comebacking Louis on a decision and making 9 successful title defenses, only Louis, Ali, and Holmes had more defending the linear heavyweight title.

18-19.Floyd Patterson (77). The youngest heavyweight champion in history until Tyson. Fought in the same peek-a-boo bob and weave defense as did Tyson. Had a pair of the fastest hands in heavyweight history, possessor of a powerful left hook. On the downside had the weakest chin among the champs, downed 16 times and knocked out 5 times.
http://www.boxrec.com/media/images/5/54/Patterson.Floyd.Color.jpg

18-19.Jersey Joe Walcott (77). A clever boxer and spoiler with excellent footwork, feinting ability and the required punch. Oldest heavyweight champion until Foreman regained title. Sporadic results.
http://www.doghouseboxing.com/Media/JerseyJoeWalcott_Big.jpg

20.Max Schmeling (76). An intelligent boxer and counter-puncher who possessed a solid right hand knockout punch. Fairly durable against most opponents, Max defeated a young Joe Louis and lost by devastating knockout in the rematch. Likely would have beaten Braddock and became first man to regain title if given opportunity.
http://tonova.typepad.com/thesuddencurve/images/maxschmeling.jpg

[Keystone]

Rocky Marciano.

badda-bing.

[Keystone]

ring generalship

lollerskates...

[Keystone]

49-0. 43 KO

He fought the darkies, too.

Anybody?

[VAMPIR]

49-0. 43 KO

He fought the darkies, too.

Anybody?
Yeah.... I'm glad for. But Ali is the best overal.

[Keystone]

Yeah.... I'm glad for. But Ali is the best overal.
Why is that?

Cassius Clay had very fast hands for a heavyweight, and moved very well. However, Marciano was absolutely fearless chasing someone like Clay. He could take a lot of punishment and in turn get in close. He finished all his punches. All of them, regardless of anything. His punches hurt, too. Clay's "rope-a -dope" cover-style would have ended up in two broken arms.

[Hippias]

49-0. 43 KO

He fought the darkies, too.

Anybody?

No. Marciano had one-punch knockout power in both hands and an iron will to win, but he didn't have the reflexes and speed of Cassius Clay or the ring savvy and boxing skill of Larry Holmes. Both fighters in their prime would have decisioned Marciano. And I'm not sure Marciano would have prevailed so easily over Joe Louis had he faced Louis in his prime. Marciano was a great heavyweight, make no mistake about it, and he'd be a force to contend with in any era, but he was not the greatest heavyweight ever.

[Keystone]

No. Marciano had one-punch knockout power in both hands and an iron will to win, but he didn't have the reflexes and speed of Cassius Clay or the ring savvy and boxing skill of Larry Holmes. Both fighters in their prime would have decisioned Marciano. And I'm not sure Marciano would have prevailed so easily over Joe Louis had he faced Louis in his prime. Marciano was a great heavyweight, make no mistake about it, and he'd be a force to contend with in any era, but he was not the greatest heavyweight ever.
We will never know.

Speed and reflexes mean naught if you're getting your head pounded in when in close....;) Only 3 men went the distance with Marciano, and with good reason.

I will stay with Marciano.

[VAMPIR]

I will stay with Marciano.
I like him, too! One of my 4-5 all time, but (even don't like him as person at all!!!) Clay was the best. Honestly.

[Keystone]

I like him, too! One of my 4-5 all time, but (even don't like him as person at all!!!) Clay was the best. Honestly.
What have you got against Marciano....? :confused:

[VAMPIR]

What have you got against Marciano....? :confused:
Not against Marciano! :) I like him. I don't like Clay - Ali (personally..), but must admit that he's the best.

[Kodos]

Ali given that he beat Forman in his twenties( who could come out of retirement at 50 and beat one of todays jokers)... I have to concede that he was probably the best.

He was an asshole black muslim commie though.

[VAMPIR]

He was an asshole black muslim commie though.
That's why I don't like him. Asshole...:mad:

[Kodos]

I wish Foreman had beat him...

[VAMPIR]

That's why I don't like him. Asshole...:mad:
Because he's muslim, of course!

[themistocles]

Tough to go against Joe Louis.

Best heavyweight boxer to constantly miss out on lists like this? Ezzard Charles. His two fights witch Rocky Marciano are legendary.

[Professor John Frink]

It's a tie between Joe Louis and Rocky Marciano.